This is the final letter from the series. Thank you for reading and I hope you have a wonderful and joyous Christmas.
To my loyal readers, friends, and WP buddies, (especially the one who gave me a 5-star review) you know who you are.
This year, I want to share with you a series of letters I composed with gratitude for helping make The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie a success. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Dear Readers,
I want to take a quiet moment to say thank you. Bringing this story into the world has been a deeply meaningful experience, and knowing that it has found its way into your homes and hearts means more than I can express.
Every time a child laughs at an adventure, feels brave alongside a character, or asks to hear the story again, it brings the book to life in a new way. Your support, your enthusiasm, and your willingness to share this story with others help its little world grow brighter and wider each day.
Thank you for reading, for imagining, and for joining me on this journey. It is an honor to share these pages with you.
To my loyal readers, friends, and WP buddies, you know who you are.
This year, I want to share with you a series of letters I composed with gratitude for helping make The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie a success. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Dear Readers,
Christmastime has always held a special place in my heart –a season filled with warmth, stories, and quiet moments shared with the ones we love. This book was written with that spirit in mind. I wanted to create a story that families could enjoy together, snuggled under blankets, wrapped in the glow of holiday lights.
If you are looking for a gift that brings imagination, laughter, and gentle lessons about friendship, I hope you will consider this little adventure. It is a story meant to be shared–read aloud, wondered over, and remembered. May it bring joy to your home this Christmas and become part of your family’s holiday traditions.
To my loyal readers, friends, and WP buddies, you know who you are.
This year, I want to share with you a series of letters I composed with gratitude for helping make The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie a success. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Dear Parents, Teachers, and Friends,
As I wrote this book, I hoped it would be more than just a moment of entertainment, I wanted it to be a story that children could return to –one that gently encourages courage, kindness, and empathy. The characters learn to support one another, face fears, and discover what friendship truly asks of us. These are lessons that grow alongside young readers.
Whether shared in a classroom, a library, or at bedtime, this story offers children a safe and magical place to explore big feelings through small adventures. Thank you for choosing stories that help young readers grow strong and tender at the same time.
To my loyal readers, friends, and WP buddies, you know who you are.
This year, I want to share with you a series of letters I composed with gratitude for helping make The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie a success. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Dear Friends,
Every writer has a place where their stories begin. For me, it was a quiet patch of woods behind my childhood home — sunlight through the branches, the soft rustle of leaves, and endless room for imagination. I wrote this story to return to that place, to honor the wonder I felt there, and to share it with young readers who are discovering their own worlds of make-believe.
This book allowed me to revisit the magical creatures and brave little characters that lived in my mind long ago. Writing it felt like opening a door to a forgotten corner of my heart. My hope is that, in reading it, children feel inspired to explore their own imaginations with joy and curiosity.
Thank you for letting me share a piece of my childhood with you.
To my loyal readers, friends, and WP buddies, you know who you are.
This year, I want to share with you a series of letters I composed with gratitude for helping make The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie a success. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Dear Friends,
Some of my happiest childhood memories came from wandering through the quiet woods behind my home — places where imagination felt as real as the trees themselves. When I began writing this book, I returned to that world with the same sense of wonder I felt as a child. Every page reflects a piece of that enchanted place, filled with curiosity, friendship, and the simple joy of letting imagination run free.
It warms my heart to share this story with you. My hope is that, whether you are reading it with a child or rediscovering your own sense of wonder, these pages bring a little magic into your day. Thank you for stepping into this adventure with me.
If you’re looking for ways to transform your life, here are five tips that will get you on your way. These five rules come from Buddhist teachings and if applied daily and in the mornings before your daily grind starts or even before having your first cup of coffee, they will help you to see life in a different light. I’ve been practicing these five rules for about a week now and it has made me calmer, more in tune with myself and believe it or not, my mind is under control as well!
Find a quiet spot and take three deep breaths to center yourself. Repeat each affirmation two or three times to let it sink in and take hold.
I am grateful for this new day.
Really simple but not so simple for some of us. Gratefulness needs to be learned and if practiced daily, it can transform your life in a positive way. Come up with one or two things you are grateful for and go from there.
Let go of yesterday.
This is a hard one. How often do we carry “yesterday” and all its disappointments, anger and sadness like an albatross around our necks? More often than not is the answer. Let go and let yesterday lie where it should. It is done with and today is a brand new day to make it all better.
I am calm and in control of my mind.
It has been said, “Rule your mind or it will rule you.” This simply means, “you have the power to train your thoughts and control your mental state, rather then being controlled by your thoughts and emotions.” Be in the present and use conscious effort to train your mind to shape the thoughts you entertain. “Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded.” Guard them with care.
I will respond with kindness today.
Listen without judgment or interruption. Show appreciation for the people around you and an act of goodwill doesn’t hurt either. Wear a smile while you’re doing it and change the world one act at a time.
Everything is temporary.
Know that change is inevitable, it will come whether you want it or not. Nothing is forever except change so learn to let go when it happens. Accepting impermanence can help you to appreciate the present moment and adjust to new situations as they happen.
Five rules to live by but it takes practice to get it down pat and to apply it to your life. Not easy but with practice it is doable. Good luck and see you on the other side of a life well-lived! 👍
Happiness is a choice although some may disagree. I feel that it starts from within and works its way out. It is going to take work as with everything else in life that is worth having.
“Happiness is a choice. You can choose to be happy. There’s going to be stress in life, but it’s your choice whether you let it affect you or not.”
Valerie Bertinelli.
If you’re looking at outside factors to validate your existence, if you’re waiting for people to give you what you need to be happy, you’ll be sorely disappointed. Happiness is a choice you make and therein lies the secret of being happy.
It has been said that, “true happiness isn’t a destination, but a way of living….cultivated through intentional practices.” What do you need to be happy? Money? Love? Freedom? Peace? The answer is that it takes all of those things and more. However, there are some key secrets to leading a happy life. They are, “prioritizing positive relationships, practicing gratitude, engaging in meaningful activities, and managing stress effectively.”
These are all good and positive ways you can achieve happiness and to keep it there for a while. However, it is not a switch that you turn on and off. If you want the long-lasting kind of “happiness” you need to make positive choices that help to foster dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and andorphins, the happy hormones. It is something you need to work towards and things like developing resilience, setting intentions and making good choices help to influence “your emotional state and overall well-being.”
“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” Dalai Lama
It takes time to cultivate. Daily habits of the positive nature help to get you there. Being kind to yourself helps to strengthen that happiness factor and training your mind to stay positive all help to see life not through rose-tinted glasses but for what it is. Work, work and more work!
“Every choice comes with a consequence. Once you make a choice, you must accept responsibility. You cannot escape the consequences of your choices, whether you like them or not.” Roy T. Bennett
One small step at a time and remember that with discomfort comes growth.
Are you seeking happiness as I am? If you are then you know that it is elusive and it takes a certain mindset to stay happy. It is a conscious choice and it demands a focus on positive things instead of your external circumstances. Experts say, it is about “choosing to focus on what is good and finding joy in everyday moments.”
How many of us do exactly that only to find that when something unforeseen shows up and rattles the boat and off we go right back to, “the glass is half-empty stuff.” It goes downhill from there, at least it does with me.
“Happiness is homemade, create it everyday.” Unknown
You have to create this elusive commodity. It’s not going to walk in and make itself known. Well, it could but it takes work on your part to get you in the happy mode and to stay that way.
Wearing a smile on your face helps. It’s like tricking your mindset into thinking that the “happy hormones” are at play so it must be alright to get and feel happy. What are the happy hormones? They are dopamine, serotonin, endorphins and oxytocin. These hormones “play a key role in regulating mood, pleasure, and overall well-being.”
How do you boost the happy foursome?
Physical activity helps. A healthy diet definitely helps to get you on the way and to activate the happy hormones. Mindfulness and relaxation helps. Things like meditation, deep breathing and nature walks help as well. I do all of those things so why is “happiness” eluding my so called existence and only shows up now and then?
“Happiness is like a butterfly. The more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.” Unknown
You’ve got to be kidding me! Stop chasing and it will show up? I think it takes more than that for happiness to come knocking on your door. According to the University of New Hampshire Psychological and Counseling Services, here are some strategies to help you find happiness.
Focus upon problem-solving, not just venting.
Take time to build quality relationships with supportive people.
Count your blessings and practice gratitude.
Take time to engage in random acts of kindness.
Practice compassion and empathy.
Be kind to yourself, rather than overly-critical or perfectionistic.
Set meaningful goals.
Appreciate what you already have.
Avoid the temptation to complain and reinforce negativity.
If all else fails, remember that your happiness depends on you.
“The best gift you could give yourself is the permission to be happy.” Unknown
Start your day right. Wear a smile, do a happy dance, and TRY to keep the negatives at bay. A day at a time and who knows you might just become the happiest person on the planet!
If you’re looking for ways to transform your life, here are five tips that will get you on your way. These five rules come from Buddhist teachings and if applied daily and in the mornings before your daily grind starts or even before having your first cup of coffee, they will help you to see life in a different light. I’ve been practicing these five rules for about a week now and it has made me calmer, more in tune with myself and believe it or not, my mind is under control as well!
Find a quiet spot and take three deep breaths to center yourself. Repeat each affirmation two or three times to let it sink in and take hold.
I am grateful for this new day.
Really simple but not so simple for some of us. Gratefulness needs to be learned and if practiced daily, it can transform your life in a positive way. Come up with one or two things you are grateful for and go from there.
Let go of yesterday.
This is a hard one. How often do we carry “yesterday” and all its disappointments, anger and sadness like an albatross around our necks? More often than not is the answer. Let go and let yesterday lie where it should. It is done with and today is a brand new day to make it all better.
I am calm and in control of my mind.
It has been said, “Rule your mind or it will rule you.” This simply means, “you have the power to train your thoughts and control your mental state, rather then being controlled by your thoughts and emotions.” Be in the present and use conscious effort to train your mind to shape the thoughts you entertain. “Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded.” Guard them with care.
I will respond with kindness today.
Listen without judgment or interruption. Show appreciation for the people around you and an act of goodwill doesn’t hurt either. Wear a smile while you’re doing it and change the world one act at a time.
Everything is temporary.
Know that change is inevitable, it will come whether you want it or not. Nothing is forever except change so learn to let go when it happens. Accepting impermanence can help you to appreciate the present moment and adjust to new situations as they happen.
Five rules to live by but it takes practice to get it down pat and to apply it to your life. Not easy but with practice it is doable. Good luck and see you on the other side of a life well-lived! 👍
According to one source, “Self-love means having a high regard for your own well-being and happiness. Self-love means taking care of your own needs and not sacrificing your well-being to please others.”
That said, when was the last time you talked to yourself with compassion? When was the last time you gave yourself some extra care and when was the last time you took care of your needs first. I don’t do those things often enough but it is necessary for your total well-being. Some days, I’m running around like a chicken with its head cut off taking care of others and on other days, I am my own worst critic. I am quick to blame and I stay there for a while to my own detriment. When I emerge from this destructive behavior, I am usually in a bad mood or everything seems just a tad gloomier.
We need to be nicer to the person we carry around. Compassion is needed and positive self-talk as well. Start by loving yourself first and it will create a ripple effect in the world around you. I think women are natural caregivers and in the process we forget to take care of ourselves. It’s time to stop and smell the roses even if it’s only for a little while. Enjoy the following quotes that bring “self-love” to the forefront and try to shine the spotlight on “YOU” for a change.
FRIENDLY REMINDER:
“It’s perfectly okay if the only exercise you get today is flipping the pages of a book or stirring your tea or smiling with friends. Well-being means your WHOLE body. Make sure your soul is getting as much exercise as your glutes.”
I sometimes forget to give my “soul” the same kind of attention I give to my body. Time to take note and do different.
“Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.” Anna Taylor
Another important point here. Set those boundaries so you know in which direction you’re headed.
“Self-confidence is a super power. Once you start to believe in yourself, magic starts happening.” Unknown
“Be proud of who you are, and not ashamed of how someone else sees you.” Unknown
It’s true isn’t it? How someone sees you is not your problem. You are enough as you are and always remember that.
Here are a few more for good measure.
“Don’t let your mind bully your body.”
“Remember how you show up for yourself is how you teach others to show up for you.”
“Choose yourself more.”
“Life is too short to be mean to yourself.”
“Less self judgment and more self compassion.”
“Choose people who choose you.”
“Live your life like the story you want to be in.”
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